PORT DICKSON: All discussions and engagements on political cooperation arrangements for the Negri Sembilan state polls have been approved by Perikatan Nasional’s supreme council, says Perikatan chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar.
Samsuri said he was also aware of these arrangements at the early stages and had consented to it in his capacity as coalition chairman.
“It was also finalised and approved during the coalition’s supreme council meeting,” he said in a statement on Thursday (July 16).
He said the Perikatan supreme council meeting on Thursday also approved the seat allocation arrangements between PAS, Parti Wawasan Negara, Gerakan and MIPP for the Negri Sembilan state elections.
The use of the Perikatan logo by its candidates was also agreed on, he said.
This comes a day after Bersatu, also a Perikatan member, said it will contest the state polls using its own logo instead of the coalition's banner.
Party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this was due to its coalition partner PAS pursuing cooperation with Barisan Nasional without discussing the matter.
He also said the Bersatu supreme council, which met on Wednesday (July 15) night, had expressed regret that PAS had made a unilateral decision to cooperate with Barisan in this state polls.
Muhyiddin also said PAS’ decision was against Perikatan’s interest as a political coalition as the latter was supposed to be an alternative to Barisan and Pakatan Harapan.
Barisan is contesting 25 seats at the coming state polls, while Pakatan is contesting all 36 seats.
Perikatan, meanwhile, is scheduled to announce its candidates later tonight (July 16).
Nomination day for the Negri Sembilan polls is set for Saturday (July 18), with polling day on Aug 1.
